Dileep Rao, Ph.D.’s Post

Founders, Here’s What to Look for in an Investor It sometimes can be better to turn down money than partner with the wrong investor. Three red flags to watch out for: 🚩Excessive Concern with Current Valuation🚩 Investors overly focused on valuation or the specifics of the current funding round, without a view to long-term implications, might not be suitable for a sustained partnership. Such a narrow focus can indicate a misalignment with your startup’s broader strategic objectives. 🚩Over-Negotiation and Micromanagement🚩 Be cautious of investors who demand overly specific terms or who exhibit micromanagement tendencies. This includes investors who are overly concerned with minor details that you are not familiar with, which might indicate a propensity to control rather than collaborate. 🚩Conflicts of Interest🚩 Exercise caution with investors who may have competing interests, such as investment or affiliation with your competitors. This dual involvement can lead to conflicts of interest or risks of strategic information leakage, which could disadvantage your startup. 👍 Agree? Let me know! 🎤 Share your experiences in the comments. ♻️ Think this could help someone? Please repost! 🔔 Follow me for more insights: Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Startups #VentureCapital #VentureDebt #Innovation #FundraisingTips #StartupFundraising #BuiltIn

Do you know how to determine the right amount of capital to raise for your startup? This article offers a comprehensive guide on how to accurately estimate the capital your startup needs to thrive. LTV Partners emphasises the importance of setting clear, achievable milestones when pitching to investors. These milestones, also known as “accretive milestones," are crucial in determining the amount to raise as they give investors a target where and when their investment will increase in value. It’s not just about raising funds; it's about raising the right amount of funds. LTV Partners ‘Investor Ready’ solution ensures organisations are ready to achieve exactly this. We ensure there is a concise investor story, one that links to your strategy and commercial model, has forecasts that align with this and optimised governance to protect stakeholders. As part of this we assess the optimal capital stack to determine the right funding mix including external capital. So, are you ready to set clear milestones, determine your burn rate, and strategically plan your funding round to make your startup appealing to investors? Read on to learn more. #StartupFunding #InvestorReady #CapitalEstimation

#Subprime venture capital, as described in a previous blog is easily recognizable. Entrepreneurs, run for the hills when you detect some of the following:

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advices for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advices for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advice for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

🔑 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 🚀 As entrepreneurs, gaining the attention and support of investors is a must to secure the needed capital for their startup's growth. To navigate this crucial stage successfully, consider these five essential practices: 🤝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 Beyond simply being concise, your pitch should effectively communicate the essence of your idea or business in a memorable way. In casual settings, aim for brevity with a 1-3 minute pitch, while for formal presentations, provide a more detailed overview ranging from 3 to 15 minutes. 🌟 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 Investors are constantly seeking ideas that address unmet needs or untapped market opportunities. Clearly outline how your startup addresses market gaps, identifies your target audience, and showcases your competitive advantage. 📖 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 While metrics and data are important, they may not resonate emotionally with investors. To truly captivate them, weave a compelling narrative around your business. Craft a narrative that blends data with emotion, enabling them to relate and invest personally in your product's journey. 💰 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Clearly outlining how you intend to utilize the investment funds is crucial for instilling confidence in potential investors. Provide a breakdown of your funding needs and explain how the investment will accelerate your company's growth trajectory. 🎯 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 Researching the investor's industry focus, investment stage preferences, and previous successful investments allows you to customize your pitch accordingly. Highlighting synergies between your venture and the investor's expertise or portfolio can significantly enhance your appeal. ✨ By meticulously addressing these five keys to captivating investors, startups can significantly and increase their chances of securing investment in 2024! -------------------------------------------------------- 🔎 Seeking more fundraising advice for your startup? Contact Capital JDI today! 🏆 At Capital JDI, we provide ventures with investor access, invaluable fundraising advice, and support through our vast network and expertise. 🔥 Reach out to us today to boost your startup's journey: https://lnkd.in/gEDd-maK #JDI #CapitalJDI #2024 #startup #investor #pitching

Let's talk funding! As an entrepreneur, you know that securing investment is the most important aspect of growing your business. But finding the right type of funding and the right investors, especially as an early-stage company, can be daunting. To understand how to effectively fundraise in the current economy we went to David W. Wright, ICD.D, an Expert Advisor at Innovation Factory, who breaks down three valuable strategies that entrepreneurs like you can use to navigate funding. Here's a snippet of the advice given from an investor to entrepreneurs: ➡️Follow the staircase model ➡️Understand the interest rates ➡️Develop a thorough market strategy 👉Continue reading: https://loom.ly/b_ubxGg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #Funding #Investment #Fundraising #Startups #Innovation #Investors #Economy #Entrepreneurship #CDNtech #Canada

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Starting a new business is exciting and full of challenges and successes. While getting investors early is tempting, it's crucial for startups to carefully consider the timing. Here’s why it's often better to wait before seeking investor funding. ⁣⁣ 𝟏. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬⁣⁣ If you bring in investors too early, you might have to give up a large portion of your company. This can lead to losing control over your business and its direction. This can cause conflicts in goals and priorities between you and your investors, possibly taking your startup in a different direction than you planned.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟐. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭⁣⁣ Before seeking external funding, it’s important to build a solid foundation for your startup. Doing this shows potential investors that your startup is strong and ready for growth. A strong foundation can help you get better terms when you eventually seek funding.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟑. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭⁣⁣ Investors want to see proof that people want your product or service. By using your own money in the early stages, you can focus on proving that your business idea works without the pressure to deliver quick returns. Showing that you have loyal customers makes your startup more attractive to investors later.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞⁣⁣ Early-stage startups need the freedom to experiment, fail, and change direction without outside pressure. By avoiding early investment, you keep the freedom to try different strategies, improve your product, and plan for sustainable growth at your own pace.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟓. 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫⁣⁣ When you approach investors with a more developed business, you’re in a better position to negotiate. You can provide clear data on your product’s performance, market acceptance, and growth potential. This makes investors more confident and allows you to negotiate better terms, protecting your equity and long-term interests.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝟔. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲⁣⁣ Using your own resources to achieve milestones shows resilience, resourcefulness, and commitment. Growth without external funding proves you can make smart financial decisions and drive your startup forward, appealing to investors. While investor funding can boost growth, seeking it too early can be harmful. Waiting ensures you attract investment on favorable terms, keeping your startup true to its vision and ready for sustainable growth. For more tips on managing your startup’s finances and planning strategically, visit TheAccountingTouch.com. Our AI-powered tools and expert guidance help startups navigate their financial journey with confidence. ⁣⁣ #Startups #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #InvestorTips #StartupFunding #Founders #BusinessStrategy #TheAccountingTouch #FinancialPlanning

How to evaluate a startup founder's worthiness of your investment? Startup founders, what you need to know about investors judging YOU. #startup #startupfunding #funding #investing #business #founder #cofounder #pitchdeck #venturecapital #VC #tech #technology #marketing